Announcement!

Announcing upcoming content!  Check out the video below.  No idea what caused the "blips" -- very annoying at times -- in there, but can't do much about it now.  Also the perfectionist in me wanted to edit this further, but what the heck ... warts and all ... here it is!

Review & Critique: The Skinny on Obesity ~ Part II Sickeningly Inaccurate

Previously:  Intro & Part I

The second installment of the University of California production, The Skinny on Obesity, featuring Dr. Robert Lustig and colleagues is entitled Sickeningly Sweet.  I've embedded the video at right.  I've entitled this installment of my Review & Critique Sickeningly Inaccurate.  That is, frankly an understatement about the information presented in this episode.  This video epitomizes what's wrong with many of the "anti-establishment" nutritional experts.  You do not counter bad science with more bad science.  This is what Lustig does here.  And it's not controversial -- at least there's some evidence supporting the lipid hypothesis -- but the "science" here is counter to known basic biochemistry and in opposition to the vast majority of the evidence of metabolism such as de novo lipogenesis.

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50 FAMILY TIPS TO GET ACTIVE - DAY 2

50 DAYS TO GO BLOG – 50 WAYS TO GET INSPIRED BY LONDON 2012 AND GET ACTIVE

Every day this week until Friday, Sport Wales will be on hand with top tips to encourage you to get active with your family…

London 2012 is just around the corner and while you might not fancy yourself as the next sporting great, there’s no better time to be inspired to get involved.

11. Organise a beach trip or barbecue at the park and incorporate a trek into the trip

12.   Recreate old school sports days with sack races, three legged races and egg and spoon

13.   As we venture into days gone past, why not revive old sing-a-long skipping games like High, Low, Dolly, Pepper

14.   Grab yourself some chalk and sketch out hopscotch on the yard or your pavement  - and get hopping!

15.   Put Saturday 4 August in your diary now! Helen Jenkins is set to compete in the triathlon. Celebrate and cheer her on by staging a mini triathlon of swimming, a bike ride and a run. You can stage it over a weekend if it’s all too much for one day.

16.   Rounders is a great way to while away the hours and get the competitive juices flowing. You don’t need to be too strict with the rules either – just have fun!

17.   Take inspiration from Geraint Thomas, Mark Colbourne and Nicole Cooke. Get on your bike with the family in tow and set out to discover some stunning parts of the Welsh countryside.

18.   If you fancy going a little further afield you could negotiate Wales’ coastal paths and cycle trails and discover all that Wales has to offer – beautiful scenery, lakes, mountains and coastline make it a captivating place to tour.

19.   Make your sporting challenges fun and mix it up for variety – let your children come up with ideas too

20.   Praise and support – if they get the basic movement skills right at an early age, children are more likely to be physically active and to enjoy sport later in life

And remember to look out for Come and Try sport sessions within your local authority or why not go along to your local sports club. For more information, just contact the sport of your choice!

50 FAMILY TIPS TO GET ACTIVE - DAY 1

Already booked yourself in for a marathon TV viewing this summer as the Olympics and Paralympics descend on London? Well, don’t settle in on the sofa too quickly, Sport Wales are on hand with some top tips to encourage you to get active with your children…

London 2012 is just around the corner and while you might not fancy yourself as the next sporting great, there’s no better time to be inspired to get more active. So every day until Friday, we'll give you 10 new tips to get you and your family active....what are you waiting for?!

1.       Take inspiration from Jessica Ennis and set up your own garden decathlon. Mark out distances to jump, a line of bean bags to weave in and out of, balls to throw as far as you can

2.       Introduce games that involve a range of sporting skills such as running, jumping, dodging, throwing, catching and balancing

3.     Reward little ones for sporting triumphs by staging your own medal ceremony

4.       If children are enjoying watching a particular sport this summer, try incorporating it into a day out. You can always adapt the sport with play items if you can’t quite set up archery or fencing

5.       Invite the neighbours over and stage your own sports day. Sign up to http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/local-leaders/ for free tips and resources

6.       We already have eight swimmers from Wales selected for London 2012 which makes this summer the ideal time to learn to swim. Parents can reward swimming lessons by getting into the pool for a bit of playtime. Have a splash and blow bubbles in the water – it all helps your child to feel confident in the water

7.       Ask your local authority and your local sports clubs for activities happening this summer. If you are 16 and under, you can swim for free at your local authority swimming pool, thanks to the Welsh Government Free Swimming initiative

8.       Challenge little ones to do better – if they’ve jumped a certain distance or skipped a number of times, see if they can do better next time

9.       Parents need to be exercise role models – if your children see you being active, they’re more likely to take part

10.   Sunny days and ball games just seem to go together. They are play-anywhere activities and portable so they are ideal for most expeditions. Whether it’s a trip to the park, a jaunt to the seaside or a day out with the relatives, pack a bat and ball and involve everybody in a game or two. 

And remember to look out for Come and Try sport sessions within your local authority or why not go along to your local sports club. For more information, just contact the sport of your choice!